Repeat Prescriptions

For those patients requiring regular medication, a repeat prescription printout will be issued by the doctor.

The dispensary can issue medication for prescriptions to the surgery’s own patients who live more than a mile from the nearest chemist. This is a health authority ruling and it is not at the discretion of the doctor.

To qualify for this service you must complete a Rural Dispensing Application Form for all members of your family at the time of registration:

Arrangements for patients to whom we are not allowed to dispense (i.e. those who live within 1 mile of a chemists shop) can be made as follows:

Signed prescription can be collected from reception in person.

Prescription can be sent to a chemist of your choosing. (A stamped addressed envelope for the chemist must be supplied)

We can post a signed prescription to you if you supply an SAE with your request.

To order repeat prescriptions either:

Place your repeat prescription request in the box in main reception or through the letterbox box when the surgery is closed.

Post to the surgery

Order online via the link at the top of this page

Please note we cannot accept telephone requests for medication.

We require 3 clear working days in order to process your request, order and check the items before they can be dispensed to you.

Repeat Prescription Processing Times

Day of week

Time of day request made to surgery

Day medication will be ready for collection

Time of day that your medication will be ready for collection

Monday

Morning/Afternoon

Thursday

Afternoon after 14:30

Tuesday

Morning/Afternoon

Friday

Afternoon after 14:30

Wednesday

Morning/Afternoon

Monday

Afternoon after 14:30

Thursday

Morning/Afternoon

Tuesday

Afternoon after 14:30

Friday

Morning/Afternoon

Wednesday

Afternoon after 14:30

Saturday/Sunday

(The surgery is closed so therefore the routine will be the same as Monday)

Morning/Afternoon

Thursday

Afternoon after 14:30

Your co-operation in helping us, by adhering to this schedule is very much appreciated.

If you consider your request to be more urgent, as you will run out of your prescription during the request period, please speak to one of the reception staff or a dispenser.

For acute prescriptions issued on the day of a consultation these mediations will normally be ready to take home within a few minutes of you being seen by the doctor – please ask if you are waiting more than 15 minutes.

Any prescription charges must be paid at this time or proof of exemption shown. Please note that this money is owed directly to the NHS, not to the Practice.

For medico-legal reasons requests for medication will not be taken over the telephone, as this prevents urgent telephone calls getting through to reception and can also result in errors being made.

Important Notice

Drug Supply Problems

Unfortunately, we are currently having difficulties obtaining certain drugs from manufacturers. This is often due to:

Exchange rate issues - drugs being exported abroad (and so not available for local use) due to the weak pound.

Please bear with us while we do our best to keep you supplied with your repeat prescriptions.

If we cannot get a reasonable supply time from any of our sources, we will ask your doctor to consider a temporary alternative.

Over the counter medications There are a number of medications that we have prescribed in the past that can be brought over the counter in large supermarkets and chemist. Such as Hay fever medications, moisturising creams, Paracetamol, and ibuprofen and aspirin to name a few. To help that NHS budget stretch as far as possible the government are asking patients to buy this items over the counter rather than asking the GP prescription. Please see the video below.

Medication Reviews

Patients on repeat medication will be asked to see a doctor, nurse practitioner or practice nurse at least once a year to review these regular medications and notification should appear on your repeat slip.

Please ensure that you book an appropriate appointment to avoid unnecessary delays to further prescriptions.

Practice Dispensary

The practice dispensary is open Monday to Friday 08:30 – 17:30 (12:30 – 13:30 closed for lunch) excluding Bank holidays. The practice employs qualified dispensers and training dispensary assistants. The dispensary is licensed to dispense those medicines prescribed to you, whether that be from a practice doctor, hospital consultant or dentist. We cannot sell ‘over the counter’ medicines or products to you.

Our dispensary issues over 6000 items per month and we are engaged in regular audit of this service. We aim to provide a positive, efficient and safe service to our patients. Please let us know in writing or by speaking to the reception or dispensary staff if you have any difficulties with the service and we will try to address them.

On occasions we may have trouble obtaining drugs due to supply difficulties. In these circumstances we will do our best to make sure you receive appropriate medication.

Prescription payments can be made by card, cash or cheque.

Prescriptions Charges and Exemptions

The NHS prescription charge is a flat-rate amount which successive Governments have thought it reasonable to charge for those who can afford to pay for their medicines. Prescription prepayment certificates (PPCs) offer real savings for people who need extensive medication.

NHS charges

These charges apply in England only. In Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales prescriptions are free of charge.

Prescription (per item): £9.15

12-month prepayment certificate (PPC): £105.90

3-month PPC: £34.40

If you will have to pay for four or more prescription items in three months, or more than 15 items in 12 months, you may find it cheaper to buy a PPC.

There is further information about prescription exemptions and fees on the NHS website

HOW TO OBTAIN MEDICINES URGENTLY

During working hours

Dispensing Patients If you run out of your medicines during normal opening hours, please contact the Surgery dispensary who will help you with your issue.

Non Dispensing Patients will need to collect the paper prescription from the Surgery, in cases of housebound patients we will endeavour to fax the prescription to the chemist for delivery.

If you run out of medicines while you’re away from home, you may be able to have a consultation with a local GP and get a prescription for a limited supply of medicines. You can do also go to an NHS walk-in-centre.

Outside of normal opening hours

If you have a prescription

If you already have a prescription and urgently need the medicines, try the following steps:

If your local pharmacy is closed, use the link to find other nearby pharmacies and their opening hours. Some are open until midnight or later, even on public holidays.

If you would prefer to speak to someone first, call NHS 111 on 111. They will also be able to look up an out-of-hours pharmacy or service in your area for you.

If you don’t have a prescription

Tip: If you use prescription medicines, always keep a record of your current prescription medicines, as set out in your usual prescription form.

If you run out of prescription medicines and don’t have a prescription with you, you may be able to get an emergency supply without a prescription from a pharmacy. It’s a good idea to take along your medicine’s packaging with you, if you have kept it.

You’ll be interviewed by the pharmacist to find out:-

Whether there is an immediate need for the medicine.

That it not practical to obtain a prescription in the circumstances without undue delay.

That the medicine has, on a previous occasion, been prescribed by a prescriber.

What dose of the medicine would be appropriate for the person to take?

The pharmacist will need to be assured of all these things before they supply a prescription-only medicine in an emergency, without a prescription.